Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth book in the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, published in 2000. A film version of this book was released in November of 2005. This book is seen by many fans as the beginning of darker times in the wizarding world, as it shows the return of Voldemort.

Contents

Dedication

To Peter Rowling, in memory of Mr Ridley and to Susan Sladden, who helped Harry out of his cupboard

Book description

The summer holidays are dragging on and Harry Potter can't wait for the start of the school year. It is his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and there are spells to be learned, potions to be brewed and Divination lessons (sigh) to be attended. Harry is expecting these: however, other quite unexpected events are already on the march...

The story begins in the Muggle-occupied village of Little Hangleton, many decades ago, around the Riddle House. The Riddles, (not exclusively stated but implied) consisting of Tom Riddle Sr. and his parents have been found dead in their house, "still in their dinner things". The police have found no evidence of any kind of murder or suicide, claiming to be in perfect health condition except for the fact that they were dead. Readers can assume it is the Avada Kedavra spell. They arrest the innocent caretaker, Frank Bryce, though he says the only person he saw that day was a mysterious dark-haired boy. He is released from the police, much to Little Hangleton's disappointment who believed he was guilty. Half a century later, an elderly Frank sees fires in the house and goes over to investigate. He thinks it is a couple boys who regularly disturb him.

Inside, he overhears Wormtail and Lord Voldemort planning to capture Harry Potter for Lord Voldemort's plan with the aid of a servant that Voldemort knows is more reliable than Wormtail, though he plans to reward Wormtail for his help in capturing a Ministry of Magic employee by the name of Bertha Jorkins whose information has helped Voldemort form this plan before he killed her. Frank is then discovered by Voldemort's snake Nagini, and welcomed in by Wormtail. He stands up to Voldemort, but upon seeing Voldemort's current form, is horrified. Voldemort then casts the Avada Kedavra spell, ending Frank's life before the book can describe what Voldemort looks like, just as Harry at the Dursley's house is waking up from a nightmare.

"A weird thing happened this morning, though. My scar hurt again. Last time that happened it was because Voldemort was at Hogwarts."

—Harry, writing to Sirius.

The experience is shown to be a dream that Harry had, and he wakes up, with his scar hurting. Harry considers writing to his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and the Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, but eventually decides to write a letter to his godfather Sirius Black, an escaped convict on the run for crimes he did not commit. He does not mention the dream, only his scar hurting and plans to send the letter once Hedwig gets back.

The next day during Saturday afternoon a letter from Molly Weasley addressed to the Dursleys to have Harry come with the Weasleys and Hermione to the Quidditch World Cup final between Ireland and Bulgaria is delivered. Unfortunately, the letter upsets Vernon Dursley due to the strange fact that there are many stamps on the envelope and that the postman actually rang the doorbell to laugh about it. One mention of his godfather is enough to convince Vernon Dursley to let him go. So, Harry writes back to Ron (after a letter from Ron came by delivered by Ron's owl Pigwidgeon) confirming that they can come to take him tomorrow before sending it. Once Hedwig returns Harry writes an extra message on Sirius's letter explaining he'll be heading to The Burrow before sending it off with Hedwig.

"They'll take the boy and go, there'll be no hanging around. That's if they're coming at all. Probably mistake the day. I dare say their kind don't set much store by punctuality. Either that or they drive some tinpot car that's broken d- AAAAAAAARRRRRGH!"

—Vernon Dursley, about the Weasley's visit.

On Sunday afternoon, the Weasleys attempt to use Floo powder to access the Dursley household, unaware that there is an electric fireplace. The Dursleys are shocked after Mr. Weasley destroys half the sitting room and collects Harry. Mr. Weasley sends the boys back, but not before Fred purposely drops a Ton-Tongue Toffee. Dudley Dursley, unable to resist due to a diet the family has been following, attempts to eat it and his tongue grows. Harry exits for the Burrow as Uncle Vernon starts throwing china figurines at Mr. Weasley.

Upon arriving at the Burrow Harry meets Ron's older brothers Bill and Charlie. Before they have a chance to talk, Mr. Weasley arrives back home and is angry with the twins for the stunt they pulled despite their personal reasons, explaining that Dudley's tongue grew to to four feet long and purple before he was allowed to fix it and this incident could undermine the muggle-wizard relations he has been working so hard to improve. Once Mrs. Weasley learns what happened this starts an argument between the four of them. After, moving to another room, Harry learns this had to do about Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, a business enterprise Ron's brothers Fred and George had set up to sell their self-invented sweets and prank objects before Mrs. Weasley forced them to stop since she wanted them to have a more reputable career in the Ministry after they graduate. In the end of the day, the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione enjoy a lovely dinner in the garden. At the table a lot of topics are brought up, the upcoming Quidditch World Cup, Bill's personal appearance, Sirius Black's whereabouts (a private conversation by Harry, Ron, and Hermione), a missing Ministry Witch named Bertha Jorkins, and Percy (who has joined the Ministry following his recent graduation) mentions a top secret event that he is up to in the Ministry which will take place after the Quidditich World Cup.

Arthur Weasley: "Well, they can be anything," said Mr Weasley. "Unobtrusive things, obviously, so Muggles won't go picking them up and playing with them..."

— Harry and Mr. Weasley talking about Portkeys.

Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys (excluding Bill, Charlie, and Percy Weasley who would apparate and meet up with them later and Mrs. Weasley who would not be attending) travel early the next morning to the site of the Quidditch World Cup Final via a Portkey, an enchanted object that can transport large groups of people across large distances in a short time. Mr. Weasley explain that two hundred Portkeys have been located around Britain to transport thousand of wizards and that they will be using the one at Stoatshead Hill. There they meet Cedric, and his father, Amos Diggory. While Fred and George are not too keen to see Cedric due to his team beating Gryffindor last year, Mr. Diggory makes a big deal of it despite that Hufflepuff's victory during that match was a fluke. They then gather around and use Portkey on Mr. Weasley's signal.

After arriving and getting their tents set up at a campsite occupied by wizards waiting for the match, Harry gets his first taste of the wizarding community outside of Britain when he travels around with Ron and Hermione to get water from a tap for boiling their meal around a campfire. Later, as they are preparing their lunch, just after the older Weasley children arrive, they meet Ludo Bagman, the match commentator and head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, who got them their tickets. During their talk, against their father's wishes, Fred and George make a bet with Ludo: all their life savings and a fake wand that Ireland will win, but the Bulgarian SeekerViktor Krum will catch the Golden Snitch. Arthur also inquires to Bagman if they found Bertha Jorkins yet. Percy's boss, Barty Crouch, head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation then arrives looking for Bagman, though has to silence him when Bagman starts to mention about something big happening at Hogwarts soon. Later that night, after getting some souvenirs, the group heads to the match.

"They'll be talking about this one for years, a really unexpected twist, that... Shame it couldn't have lasted longer... Ah yes.. yes, I owe you... How much?"

—Ludo Bagman, to Fred and George.

While at the Top Box in the World Cup stadium, Harry meets Winky the house-elf, a friend of Dobby's, saving a seat for Mr. Crouch, who never shows up during the match. Also there is the Minister of MagicCornelius Fudge, as well as Lucius Malfoy with his wife and Draco (though both the Weasley and Malfoy groups have to restrain themselves out of respect for Fudge). After Bagman introduces both teams' mascots, the match turns out to be an intense and exciting affair, with amazing skill displayed on both sides, particularly from Krum, and a fight breaking out between the two team's mascots after Ireland is awarded many penalty shots which angered the Veela. Ireland quickly gains a massive lead and win the match, despite Krum catching the Golden Snitch. After the match both teams head to the Top Box and Fudge awards Ireland the Quidditch World Cup, while Fred and George are happy as they won their bet with Bagman.

Draco Malfoy: "Granger, they're after Muggles. Do you want to be showing off your knickers in midair? Because if you do, hang around... they're moving this way, and it would give us all a laugh."

Harry Potter: "Hermione's a witch."

Draco Malfoy: "Have it your own way, Potter... If you think they can't spot a Mudblood, stay where you are."

— Draco Malfoy, during the riot.

Riot at the Quidditch World Cup.

After the wizards around the campsite celebrate before going to sleep, that night, a group of masked wizards attack the camp and torment some local Muggles. While Mr. Weasley heads out with his older children to face them, the rest of the group head out to the woods away from the event. When Ron trips on a tree branch it separates him, Harry, and Hermione, from Fred, George, and Ginny. They run into Draco Malfoy who goads them about the riot, and tells them to keep Hermione, being a mudblood, safe. Shortly afterwards Harry realises his wand is missing, and they find Winky who is behaving strangely as if she were to trying to restrain something. After finding a place to hide they hear someone nearby incant "Morsmordre", and they watch the Dark Mark, float into the sky.

The Ministry is quick to the scene, stunning anything that moves. After determining that Harry, Ron, and Hermione had nothing to do with the Dark Mark, they search nearby to find Winky holding Harry's wand. A quick spell proves that Harry's wand conjured the Dark Mark. Even though no one thinks Winky did it, Barty Crouch publicly fires her which personally offends Hermione for the awful way Winky was treated forcing Mr. Weasley to take them back to their tents where the others are. After the attack, Mr. Weasley mentions that the Dark Mark is the sign that Voldemort's supporters leave whenever they murder someone, and also learn that the hooded wizards were Death Eaters, followers of Voldemort. Bill mentions that the ones from tonight strangely fled the scene when the Dark Mark was cast in the sky likely due to their denial of serving Voldemort to stay out of Azkaban. Mr. Weasley then insists they go back to bed since they be leaving by Portkey in a few hours.

"What if You-Know-Who had got you, and the last thing I ever said to you was that you didn't get enough O.W.L.s? Oh, Fred...George..."

—Molly Weasley, concerning about the children.

Ron's dress robes.

The next morning the group quickly departs the campsite and arrive at the Burrow where a worried Mrs. Weasley greets them. When Mrs. Weasley shows them the Daily Prophet article covering last nights attack which was filled with some inaccurate details written by Rita Skeeter, a journalist well known for her heavily negative stories, this forces Mr. Weasley to head to the Ministry with Percy to straighten things out as he is indirectly mentioned in the article. Heading into Ron's room, Harry tells Ron and Hermione about his scar hurting and his letter to Sirius, as well as the dream. The three remark on how strange it is; Harry's scar hurting, and the Dark Mark appearing for the first time in thirteen years and Harry also brings up the prophecy of Voldemort's return which is connected with Wormtail. Whilst staying at the Burrow in the following week, on the final day before they are to return to Hogwarts, Harry hears that the Ministry of Magic, has come under heavy fire for failing to stop the riot at the Quidditch World Cup or arrest any of the culprits because of Rita Skeeter's article. Mr. Weasley mentions Rita is giving them more criticism as she has learned one of its employees Bertha Jorkins has gone missing. Meanwhile Ron is dismayed by the appearance of his dress robes along with the fact he'll need them this year at Hogwarts for a formal occasion.

"Don't tell me you don't know? You've got a father and brother at the Ministry and you don't even know? My God, my father told me about it ages ago... heard it from Cornelius Fudge. But then, Father's always associated with the top people at the Ministry... Maybe your father's too junior to know about it, Weasley... yes.. they probably don't talk about important stuff in front of him..."

—Draco Malfoy mocking Ron for the his lack of inside information from the Ministry of Magic.

The next morning Harry overhears a conversation between Mr. Weasley and Amos Diggory (who is communicating through the Floo Network) about an ex-Auror named Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody who was attacked in his home the previous night and Amos needs Mr. Weasley's help in clearing things up before it gets worse. Charlie informs Harry that an Auror is basically an evil wizard catcher. After Mr. Weasley leaves, so does Percy, who needs to get back to work. This leaves the rest of the adults to take the children to King's Cross Station by muggle taxi. At the station, the kids say good-bye to Mrs. Weasley, Bill and Charlie and the adults suggest that there would be an exciting event at Hogwarts. But they didn't tell what it is. In the Hogwarts Express, after a few subjects are brought up regarding the other wizarding schools across Europe and the Quidditch World Cup, Draco Malfoy also speaks on the subject and says that there's glory and money involved in the event. They soon arrive at Hogwarts with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville Longbottom occupying one of the carriages pulled by seemingly nothing bound for the castle

"As I was saying, we are to have the honour of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."

—Dumbledore, presenting the Triwizard Tournament.

Arriving at the castle and dealing with one of Peeves' pranks, the trio heads to the Gryffindor Table for the Sorting Ceremony to which Harry could attend for the first time in three years (having been unable to attend it during his second and third year). Here they meet Colin Creevey again, who reveals his younger brother Dennis is one of the new students, and during the ceremony he is also placed in Gryffindor. The Start-of-Term Feast then begins and after Nearly Headless Nick brings up the subject of Peeves causing problems in the kitchen, Hermione learns that the ones working in the kitchen are house-elves which offends her further on how house-elves are treated, along with that they do not get any benefits (which the house-elves themselves do not want), and she then refuses to eat anymore food.

After making a few start-of-term notices, Professor Dumbledore announces that instead of having Quidditch teams this year, a very special event is going to take place at Hogwarts instead. Before he goes on, a mysterious man with a bizarre appearance appears in the Great Hall, to whom Dumbledore identifies as Mad-Eye Moody, who is going to be their new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Afterwards Dumbledore states this event is the Triwizard Tournament which will start at the end of October on Hallowe'en. The Tournament calls for a single champion from each of the three largest wizarding schools in Europe to compete in a series of three trials for the prize of one thousand Galleons. Though it was banned in the past due to people dying in these dangerous tasks, Dumbledore reveals that both Crouch and Bagman's departments have talked it out to where they've agreed to reinstate the tournament under the condition that new safety rules are used, including that no student under the age of seventeen will submit their name for consideration. The students are then sent to bed, though Fred and George plot to find a way to bypass Dumbledore's safety measures so they could enter the tournament.

On the morning of their first day back, Harry, Ron, and Hermione prepare to begin the classes in their school schedule, though Harry is concerned why Hedwig had not returned yet with Sirius's letter. Hermione has also ended her hunger strike, deciding to focus on a different way of standing up for house-elf rights. First they have Herbology, then Care of Magical Creatures class, where Hagrid teaches the class about monstrous creatures known as Blast-Ended Skrewts. Lastly Harry and Ron have Divination where Sybill Trelawney assigns the class extra homework after Ron makes a rude comment.

At dinner, Draco Malfoy insults Ron by showing Ron a Daily Prophet article that casts Ron's father Arthur Weasley (identified in the article as Arnold Weasley) in a bad light by Rita Skeeter who found out about the attack on Alastor Moody's home. While he and Hermione restrain an angry Ron, Draco makes some rude comments about Mrs. Weasley. After Harry counters this by making a rude comment about Draco's mother, an angry Draco attempts to curse Harry when his back is turned. Moody quickly intervenes and transfigures Draco into a white ferret and then bounces him around until Professor McGonagall forces him to stop and undoes the curse herself. After Hermione leaves to do some extracurricular work, Fred, George, and their friend Lee Jordan show up and tell Harry and Ron how cool Moody's class is though it will be a few days before Ron and Harry will have their first lesson with Moody.

"Now, according to the Ministry of Magic, I'm supposed to teach you countercurses and leave it at that. I'm not supposed to show you what illegal Dark curses look like until you're in the sixth year...How are you supposed to defend yourself against something you've never seen? ...You need to be prepared. You need to be alert and watchful."

—Moody, presenting the Unforgivable Curses to the class.

In their first lesson with Moody on Thursday, after taking time to talk things out which includes revealing he will only be staying at Hogwarts for one year, Moody decides to show the fourth year Gryffindors the Unforgivable Curses though this is something they are meant to learn in their sixth year. Despite causing some fear amongst the students (especially Neville who needed comfort from both the trio and Moody after the lesson and Moody later lent Neville a Herbology book to cheer him up), Moody shows the entire class the three curse using spyders as his test subjects: Imperio, a mind control spell, Crucio, a torturing curse, and Avada Kedavra, the Killing Curse. Later that night after dinner in their Common Room, Harry and Ron fake their Divination homework after finding it too difficult and Harry notices Fred and George acting strangely and slightly overhear it has to do with someone. Later on Hermione shows up and reveals that she has started SPEW, a club to work of fighting for house-elf rights, having spent her time in the library researching house-elf history. She also wants Harry and Ron to join, but before the conversation is carried out further Hedwig returns with a letter from Sirius. Sirius says there are rumors of going about of Harry's scar hurting and he's returning to Britain. Harry feels worried about Sirius coming back and possibly getting caught by the Ministry all because he hastily sent the letter earlier and then goes to bed.

"Longbottom, kindly do not reveal that you can't even perform a simple Switching Spell in front of anyone from Durmstrang!"

—McGonagall, tense about the upcoming visitors.

Early the next day a concerned Harry sends a letter to Sirius claiming he is okay so Sirius won't have to return to Britain. Over the next couple of weeks Harry has been fighting off his concerns of Sirius while waiting for Hedwig to get back with Sirius's letter. In Defense Against the Dark Arts, Moody has them practice on resisting the Imperius Curse and only Harry is able to resist it despite slightly bruising his knees in the process and takes him a couple more tries before he could completely resist it. During Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall explains to her fourth year students as she assigns them extra homework that this is the time for them to start preparing for the O.W.L. examinations which will occur at the end of their next year.

Later after going through more classes, following Care of Magical Creatures, the group returns to the castle where a crowd of students are looking at a sign posted to the wall. The sign reveals in about a week on 30 October, lessons will end early due to the delegations from the two other schools, the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and the Durmstrang Institute arriving that evening. Over the next week, Hogwarts Castle undergoes a major refit where the castle is redecorated and the nervous staff members are making sure that things go well when the delegates arrive. On October 30th, encountering Fred and George Weasley who are once again having a secret meeting regarding sending a letter to a certain person, the trio talk with them about the Triwizard Tournament and then the subject of House-elves is brought up by Hermione. Fred and George suggest she should see them in the Hogwarts Kitchen just to see for herself how happy they are, despite Hermione's insistence that they are being brainwashed.

The owls then arrive with Hedwig coming with Sirius's response. Sirius mentions that he has seen through Harry's ruse and asks not to worry about him, but rather to watch out for himself as well as keeping him posted on the recent events at Hogwarts. Sirius also asks that Harry use a different owl next time when sending him a message as Hedwig being a snowy owl would attract too much attention. That night each of the houses are assembled in a line in the Great Hall while waiting for the delegates to arrive. The first by flying carriage and the second shortly afterwards a submerged ship, with their respective heads: Madame Maxime, a woman as big as Hagrid, and Igor Karkaroff. Viktor Krum is also revealed to be among the Durmstrang students.

"The fire in the goblet had just turned red again. Sparks were flying out of it. A long flame shot suddenly into the air, and borne upon it was another piece of parchment... And then Dumbledore cleared his throat and read out - Harry Potter."

—The Goblet of Fire chooses Harry Potter.

The Goblet of Fire.

The students sit down at their tables (with the Beauxbatons students at the Ravenclaw table and Durmstrang at Slytherin), and the Welcoming Feast begins with Hagrid, Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch arriving later. After the feast, Dumbledore announces that Crouch and Bagman who helped organise the tournament will also serve as judges alongside the three headmasters to evaluate the Champions performance. Dumbledore then announces that the three champions will be decided by the Goblet of Fire, an enchanted artefact that chooses the most worthy entrants from those students who submit their names and must then compete in three dangerous tasks. Dumbledore finishes by stating the champions will selected the following night during Hallowe'en. On the way out the Durmstrang headmaster Karkaroff gives Harry a look of displeasure before Moody forces him to move along. The Goblet is placed in the Great Hall and an Age Line is drawn around the Goblet to prevent under-age students from submitting their names.

During the next day, predictably, Fred and George attempt to enter through the use of an Ageing Potion, but they are repelled by the line much to everyone's amusement, including Dumbledore's and have to be sent to the Hospital wing to have their gray beards removed. That afternoon the trio visit Hagrid at his cabin and find he got dressed up for Madame Maxime and he also refuses Hermione's offer to join S.P.E.W. by pointing out that the house-elves enjoy their role as servants. That night during the Hallowe'en feast, the champions are soon announced: Viktor Krum, the Seeker for the Bulgarian Quidditch World Cup team, representing Durmstrang, Fleur Delacour, the beautiful girl Harry and Ron met last night representing Beauxbatons, and Cedric Diggory of Hufflepuff representing Hogwarts, but then a fourth name is thrown from the Goblet of Fire: Harry Potter.

"Dumbledore, you know perfectly well you did not make a mistake! Really, what nonsense! Harry could not have crossed the line himself, and as Professor Dumbledore believes that he did not persuade an older student to do it for him, I'm sure that should be good enough for everybody else!"

—Professor McGonagall, angrily defending Dumbledore.

Harry, the Fourth Champion.

Since Harry neither submitted his name due to the age restriction nor asked an older student to do so, the assembly is dumbfounded, and so is Harry himself as he heads into the room where the champions are sent off to. Although protests issue from the heads of the other schools against two Hogwarts champions, it is decided that the Goblet of Fire has spoken and that changes must be made accordingly. While many think Harry has somehow circumvented Dumbledore's age restricting barrier, Moody suggests that perhaps someone entered Harry's name under a fourth school to ensure he would be included in the competition, hoping he might not survive the perilous tasks that awaited the other champions. Crouch then reveals the First Task is on 24 November and the champions have until then to figure out what it is to prepare for it and they are forbidden to receive any help from anyone else and they'll learn the details of the Second Task after completing the First Task. They will also be exempt from the end of year exams due to being too busy with the tournament. The group then disbands and Cedric talks with Harry briefly as they are heading back to their respective dormitories. At the Gryffindor Common Room, most of the other Gryffindor students throw a party to celebrate despite Harry's displeasure. Afterwards he returns to his dormitory where Ron is who also does not seem pleased by these events nor does he believe Harry's story about not entering the tournament.

"He was very fond of his wand, and as far as he was concerned its relationship to Voldemort's wand was something it couldn't help - rather as he couldn't help being related to Aunt Petunia."

—Harry, about his wand.

Rita Skeeter.

Hermione explains to Harry the next morning that his entry into the competition is what has strained his relationship with Ron, as he feels once again left in the shadow of his friend. Harry reluctantly accepts Hermione's advice to send a letter to Sirius to update him on what happened and sends a letter with a school barn owl much to Hedwig's jealousy. Ron is not alone in shunning Harry; a great many of the students from all three schools assume he somehow cheated his way into the tournament, making Harry's life miserable, with the exception of his fellow Gryffindors (excluding Ron), who are proud about Harry being in the tournament. This makes it difficult for Harry in his lessons over the next week. It gets bad in Potions when the Slytherin students wear insulting badges that causes an angry Harry to attempt to curse Malfoy, which causes Goyle and Hermione to be cursed instead and both head to the hospital wing. Though Harry and Ron reconnect in this moment with Snape taking 50 points away from Gryffindor and giving them detention, they quickly break apart again.

Colin Creevey then arrives to pick up Harry as Mr. Bagman needs him for a photo session. After arriving, Rita Skeeter interviews Harry in a separate room as part of a piece on the Triwizard Tournament, before the Wand Weighing ceremony begins, and twists his words into something inaccurate despite stating he doesn't know how he entered the tournament before Dumbledore interrupts stating the ceremony is about to begin. Here Harry sees Mr. Ollivander again where after examining the other champions wands he examines Harry's and deems it is still in perfect condition. After the champions and judges go through a long photoshoot, Harry goes to dinner and then returns to Gryffindor Tower where Ron is who tells Harry he has an owl and that their detention starts later. Going to where the school barn owl is with Sirius's letter, Sirius' letter states that since it is too risky to communicate by letter, he'll contact Harry on 22 November at 1AM and Harry must be alone at the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room.

"Harry was finding it difficult to think about the future at all, he felt as if his whole life had been leading up to, and would finish with, the first task..."

—Harry, fearing the first task.

The Dragons of the First Task.

Harry's knowledge of his upcoming talk with Sirius is what is able to help ease him over the coming days as he is highly embarrassed with Rita Skeeter's news article which mainly focused on him and told a highly inaccurate piece of his life story which further strains his friendship with Ron who thinks Harry is trying to get attention. RavenclawCho Chang is the only person outside of Gryffindor who wishes Harry good luck with the first task that is coming up on that Tuesday and Harry finds himself infatuated with her. On the Saturday prior to the first task, the students visit Hogsmeade village. Harry goes with Hermione under his Invisibility Cloak so he could relax and avoid dealing with anymore criticism. While he is at the Three Broomsticks Inn for Butterbeer, Moody sees Harry under his cloak and Hagrid asks Harry to meet him at midnight, one hour before his meeting with Sirius.

The Gamekeeper sneaks Harry into a meeting with Maxime, to where they travel to a spot meant to be kept secret, which reveals that the first task will involve dragons. Charlie Weasley and other dragon keepers are also there with getting the dragons ready for the First Task and keeping them under control. Charlie then talks with Hagrid and identifies the species of each of the four dragon breeds and reveals that one is for each champion to which they must get past them on their own, though he and the other keepers are also there to keep things under control if it gets nasty during the event. Harry then leaves for the castle bumping into Karkaroff on the way while keeping himself hidden. He realizes if Karakoff had followed Hagrid and Maxine then it would be likely that Cedric will be the only champion not aware of what is coming up.

Just as Harry returns to his common room, Sirius contacts Harry via the Floo Network, as they had arranged. Harry starts by filling him in on what has happened. Sirius then speaks and warns him that Karkaroff was once a Death Eater, who got free from custody by identifying other Death Eaters and could have put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire. Sirius then mentions Rita Skeeter's article from last month regarding the attack on Moody and suspects it was no accident and that someone may have tried to keep Moody from going to Hogwarts. Sirius also brings up the Death Eater disturbance at the Quidditch World Cup and the Ministry witch Bertha Jorkins who disappeared in Albania where Voldemort was last reported to be. Sirius reveals he knew Jorkins personally while they were in school who wasn't very bright and could have easily fallen into a trap and she would have known about the Triwizard Tournament beforehand. Sirius finishes by stating there is some doubt if Karkaroff is part of this plot as he did betray the Death Eaters long ago and whoever did put Harry's name in the Goblet had a reason. Before he can give Harry any advice on getting past his dragon he is interrupted by the appearance of Ron and disappears from the fire. After another fight Harry goes to bed.

"He stared hopelessly down at the index of Basic Hexes for the Busy and Vexed... instant scalping... but dragons had no hair... pepper breath... that would probably increase a dragon's firepower... horn tongue... just what he needed, to give it an extra weapon...."

—Harry, researching a way to defeat a dragon.

Harry mastering the Summoning Charm.

After Harry tells Hermione everything he learned recently, they agree that dealing with the dragons comes first but are unable to find anything in the library that could help them. On Monday, realising the other schools' champions know about the dragons, after working on separating Cedric from his friends so he could talk to him privately, Harry tips off Cedric to make sure the contest is fair. Moody then appears, and gives Harry some general advice on how to beat his Dragon: to play to his strengths and use a simple spell to get what he needs. With Hermione's help, Harry manages to master the Summoning Charm after spending most of day working on it until 2AM. On Tuesday, the day of the task, Mr. Bagman reveals their task is to get the Golden egg each dragon is guarding and the model dragons each champion would draw out of a small bag will determine the order they'll be going in and which dragon they'll face.

Harry finds himself to be going last and is against the most violent of the four dragons, the Hungarian Horntail, though he declines Mr. Bagman's offer for advice. Once his turn comes up, Harry manages to summon his Firebolt broomstick and fly, and he uses the flying strategy he had learned as a Quidditch player to lure the dragon off the eggs long enough for him to zoom in and snatch the golden egg despite taking a minor shoulder injury during the task. Ron, realising the true danger of the Tournament becomes Harry's friend again, with most of Hogwarts (excluding Slytherin) following suit. After seeing his score, Harry learns from Charlie Weasley that he is currently tied with Viktor Krum for first place and that Mr. Bagman needs to see him. Mr. Bagman reveals to the champions that the Second Task will take place on 24 February at 9:30am and that they have until then to figure out the message their Golden Egg has hidden within it to learn what the Second Task will involve so they can prepare for it. On his way back to the castle with Ron, Rita Skeeter shows up for an interview, but Harry brushes her off.

After Ron is brought up to speed on what Harry has learned, he allows Harry to borrow Pigwidgeon to send Sirius a new letter to update him on his completing the first task. Gryffindor then celebrates Harry's completion of the first task that night, but when Harry opens up his golden egg during the party to find out the clue for the second task, a horrible screech comes out. Hermione also learns from Fred Weasley how to get into the kitchen where the house-elves are. During December, Rita Skeeter arrives at Hagrid's during a Care of Magical Creatures lesson with the fourth years trying to get an interview with Hagrid who is surprised to see her there as Dumbledore had banned her from entering Hogwarts Castle.

That night after not seeing Hermione at dinner, she shows up just as Harry and Ron are about to enter Gryffindor Tower with good news for Harry. Hermione takes Harry and Ron to the kitchens and there they see a lot of domestic elves, where Harry is reunited with Dobby and learns that Winky is there too. Dobby reveals that since it is difficult for a house-elf to find actual work, after spending two years failing to find work and finding Winky after Mr. Crouch sacked her, Dobby suggested they would find work at Hogwarts and have been there for a week so far with Dumbledore actually paying Dobby a small wage. Winky is very sad and ashamed for being fired by her old master. Hermione tries to cheer her up, with no luck, though Winky does become slightly happier when she learns that Mr. Crouch has been at Hogwarts.

"A week ago, Harry would have said finding a partner for a dance would be a cinch compared to taking on a Hungarian Horntail. But now that he had done the latter, and was facing the prospect of asking a girl to the ball, he thought he'd rather have another round with the Horntail."

—Harry thinking about the Yule Ball invitation.

Ron "enchanted" by Fleur Delacour.

After a Tranfiguration class McGonagall explains to her students about the Yule Ball, a formal event that is coming on 25 December and is open to fourth years and above (though a younger student can still attend if invited by an older student as their date) and tells Harry privately that he and his dance partner will start off the event alongside the other champions and their dates as a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament. Over the next few weeks both Ron and Harry unsuccessfully attempt to find dates as they are dealing with the final classes of the term, not to mention that Fred and George act suspiciously again when they want to borrow Pigwidgeon to deliver a letter to someone which Ron declines as Pigwidgeon is not back yet (from delivering Sirius' letter) and suspiciously inquires who it is for. Harry later works up his courage and asks Cho, but learns that she had already agreed to go with Cedric. This information sours his relationship with Cedric. After Harry returns to the Gryffindor common room he sees Ginny comforting Ron and learns that Ron foolishly tried to ask Fleur out. Ron then tactlessly asks Hermione out, but she is going with someone else, not to mention Harry can't ask Ginny out now as she is going with Neville. Finally, Harry manages to secure dates for them.

Hermione Granger: "Well, if you don't like it, you know what the solution is, don't you?"

Ron Weasley: "Oh yeah? What's that?"

Hermione Granger: "Next time there's a ball, ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort!"

— Ron and Hermione, bellowing at each other.

The silvery fountain.

As the holidays begin, Hermione refuses to tell Ron who her date for the Yule Ball is stating he'll make fun of her and also reveals that her front teeth have shrunk abit which she allowed when Madam Pomfrey restored her teeth following the curse that Malfoy placed on her earlier that made them grow. Draco Malfoy then tries to make fun of someone taking Hermione, a Mud-Blood to the ball but the mere mention of Mad-Eye Moody is enough to drive him back. Pigwidgeon then returns with Sirius' reply who congratulates Harry for completing the first task and reminds him to stay on guard. On Christmas Day, Dobby wakes Harry up and gives Harry his present, a pair of mismatched socks he made himself from the wool he purchased from the wages he had been earning. Harry then opens the presents he got from his other friends for Christmas (which notably includes including the image of a dragon knitted on the sweater made by Mrs. Weasley and a magical penknife from Sirius). After spending a relaxing day Harry and his dorm roommates then head back to their dorm to get ready for the ball. They then head to the Great Hall where the event is to take place.

At the start of the ball, it is revealed that Hermione is going with none other than Viktor Krum. When the champions reach the judges table, Crouch is nowhere to be seen. Percy Weasley, who is now promoted to Crouch's assistant says to Harry that he is simply ill. After the entire room has their meal, the Weird Sisters then start their performance for the dance. Neither Harry nor Ron have any interest in dancing (though Harry does participate in the opening dance) and their dates the Patil sisters soon abandon them not to mention Ron gets into an embarrassing argument with Hermione whose accompanying Viktor Krum damages their friendship as he believes Krum would do anything to win the tournament.

After Percy moves to their table and he sees his younger brothers Fred and George bothering Ludo Bagman, along with Mr. Bagman coming over and having a talk with him, Harry and Ron decide to go for a walk on the grounds to get away from this. While there, they encounter Karkaroff having a worried discussion with Snape, and Hagrid and Maxime enjoying a tender moment. The moment is ruined when Hagrid insinuates Maxime is a Half-giant, like him, offending her. Ron naturally has to inform Harry about how serious this information is, given the nasty reputation giants have in the wizarding world. Shortly after the ball, Cedric gives Harry a hint about the egg: to take a bath with it and gives Harry the password to enter the Prefects' bathroom, as thanks for warning him about the dragons.

By the next day, Ron and Hermione decide to put last nights argument behind them and Hermione isn't too surprised when she learns that Hagrid is a half-giant, as she suspected this all along. Harry is reluctant to take Cedric's advice, jealous of his relationship with Cho. During their first day of their classes in January, when they arrive at Care of Magical Creatures, a substitute teacher Professor Grubbly-Plank is teaching the class which Draco Malfoy shows Harry what happened to Hagrid through a Daily Prophet article; Rita Skeeter had published a nasty story about Hagrid and his giant heritage (which also used a quote from Draco), that drove Hagrid into hiding. This raises some questions between the trio, as nobody else heard Hagrid talking privately with Madam Maxine that night, not to mention Rita is supposed to be banned from Hogwarts. Several weeks pass and during another Hogsmeade visit while hoping to find Hagrid at the Three Broomsticks Inn, the trio instead find Ludo Bagman there who is strangely meeting with some goblins.

During his private conversation with Mr. Bagman, Harry learns that Barty Crouch has stopped coming to work and is sending Percy instructions by owl, not to mention after organising a search for her, they still haven't found Bertha Jorkins before he offers his help once again for the tournament which Harry immediately declines. Fred and George's sudden appearance forces Mr. Bagman to leave. Hermione then questions why Mr. Bagman is trying to help Harry cheat along with the real reason the goblins were meeting with him. Rita Skeeter then shows up who also has encountered Ludo Bagman and the goblins and as she prepares to investigate this both Harry and Hermione start an argument with her on the way she treated Hagrid.

After arriving at Hagrids cabin, the trio along with Dumbledore try to persuade him to return, pointing out not everyone has abandoned Hagrid, along with that even they have bad people in their own families and that Hagrid can never please everyone. After Dumbledore leaves, Hagrid remembers his late father telling him never to be ashamed of what he is, and gets over his depression. He gives his support to Harry in the Tournament, believing that if he won, he could show everyone they do not have to be ashamed of what they are. This is enough to convince Harry to put aside his pride and take Cedric's advice.

Deciding to take Cedric's advice, Harry sneaks into the Prefect's bathroom at night so he could have all the time he'll need to figure out the clue, taking only the golden egg along with his Invisibility Cloak and Marauder's Map with him. Harry initially has trouble figuring out how to open the egg properly, but with a little help from Moaning Myrtle who had been spying on him, Harry opens the egg underwater. This time, it does not scream. Instead, there are voices singing which Harry can only hear underwater, and Harry realises, that he must save something he cares about from the depths of the Black Lake from the merpeople.

On the way back to Gryffindor tower, he sees Barty Crouch in Snape's office on the Marauder's Map, and goes to investigate. When he falls through a trick stair which traps his leg, he accidentally drops the egg and map, attracting the attention of Filch the caretaker who finds the egg. Snape soon arrives and demands Filch's help in catching the intruder who broke into his office shortly before Moody arrives. Moody angers Snape by suggesting Snape had something to hide in his office even though he had searched that office after his arrival at Hogwarts. Moody then saves Harry from being caught by claiming the Marauder's Map as his own (after an invisible Harry warns him not to give it to Snape), though Snape suspects Harry's involvement by recognising the Marauder's Map before Moody forces him and Filch away as well as getting the egg back from Filch. As Moody frees his leg, Harry tells Moody about how the map works and Mr. Crouch's appearance on it. After Moody spends time looking over the Marauder's Map, Harry asks what Crouch was doing in Snape's office, and Moody suggests that Crouch was trying to find evidence of Snape being a dark wizard. Moody then asks to borrow the map, and after learning what Harry was up to that night, gives him a personal recommendation that Harry might consider becoming an Auror for a career.

"Most of the judges, feel that this shows moral fiber and merits full marks. However... Mr. Potter's score is forty-five points."

—Ludo Bagman, about Harry performance on the Second Task.

Gillyweed used by Harry for the Second Task.

Harry explains what happened the previous night to Ron and Hermione and even though Harry and Ron suspect Snape might have put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire, Hermione doubts this. Harry also sends a school owl to Sirius to update him on what happened. Over the coming weeks, even with help from Hermione and Ron as well as the library's resources (including getting McGonagall's permission for the Restricted Section), Harry struggles to think of a way to breathe underwater for a hour. Two days before the second task is to start Sirius's response comes in and he asks when their next trip to Hogsmeade is. On the last night before the task, the trio are continuing their research in the school library when Fred and George appear to inform them that Professor McGonagall has summoned Ron and Hermione. Harry later sneaks back into the library after hours with his Invisibility Cloak, but can't find anything else. The next morning, with a little help from Dobby, Harry discovers gillyweed, a plant that, when eaten, gives him fish like qualities such as gills and fins.

He quickly makes his way to the lake just as the task is about start and finds that once again Percy is taking Mr. Crouch's place. While swimming through the lake and fighting off a swarm of Grindylows, Moaning Myrtle points Harry in the right direction, and Harry discovers a town of Merpeople, where Ron (the thing Harry would miss the most) is being held, along with Hermione (for Krum), Cho (for Cedric), and Fleur's sister. Harry frees Ron, but refuses to leave the others, despite the insistence of the Merpeople. Cedric and Krum appear and rescue their loved ones, but Fleur never arrives. With little other choice, Harry drags her sister to the surface as well, narrowly avoiding drowning as the gillyweed wears off. Although he was wrong to think the other hostages would be left to die (they would have simply returned to the surface unharmed), his bravery and valour earn him extra points from the judges who state that he showed great "moral fibre." This puts both Harry and Cedric in first place in the overall points. Ludo Bagman then reveals the third and final task is on 24 June and the champions will learn more about it a month beforehand.

In March, Sirius' reply states where the trio is to meet up with him during their next Hogsmeade trip and also to bring food. Before Potions, Slytherin Pansy Parkinson gleefully gives Hermione a copy of Witch Weekly; Rita had published an article on Hermione Granger saying that she is toying with both Harry and Krum's feelings and Pansy who made a quote in the article suggested Hermione was making Love Potions which are illegal. Hermione realises that Skeeter must have eavesdropped on her and Krum's conversation on the shores of the lake, and begins wondering how Rita is getting her information. After Snape gets ahold of the article, he reads part of the article creating further laughter from the Slytherins and then breaks the trio up and sends them to different tables. Snape then confronts Harry over the recent theft of materials from the private stores in his office; the boomslang skin and gillyweed and threatens Harry with Veritaserum, a potion that will cause Harry to tell the truth when consumed. Karkaroff then shows up to talk to Snape, and sticks around until after class but Snape blows him off, but not before Harry who purposely stayed behind noticed that Karkaroff had tried to show Snape something on his arm out of fear.

Sirius meets them secretly in Hogsmeade and directs them to a mountain cave where Buckbeak and some old Daily Prophet articles are (Sirius had been stealing discarded newspapers to keep up on current events). They first discuss Winky and what happened at the World Cup and Sirius suggests that whoever stole Harry's wand must have done so while they were watching the game in the Top Box and is also suspicious that Barty Crouch was looking around for something before he sacked Winky and finds it odd that not only did Crouch not show up during the game, but also this sudden illness of his. Sirius then explains that Crouch was the one who sent him to Azkaban without a trial as Crouch used to head the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and was also poised to become the next Minister for Magic. During Voldemort's previous reign, Crouch took extreme measures against the Death Eaters, including allowing the Aurors to use the Unforgivable Curses against them.

While this greatly boosted Crouch's popularity and ensured that Crouch would become the next Minister, something happened just after Voldemort's downfall which permanently destroyed Crouch's reputation in the Ministry and cost him his chances of becoming the Minister himself (which contributed to Cornelius Fudge becoming the Minister instead). Crouch's son had been caught with a group of Death Eaters and was given a show trial by his father before being locked up in Azkaban and died a year later. Shortly afterwards Crouch's wife died, then Crouch's popularity dropped heavily as people suspected that Crouch was a bad father which is how his son ended up like that.

Ron then brings up Crouch's appearance in Snape's office, which Sirius questions due to his mysterious disappearance since Crouch would have kept an eye on Snape as a tournament judge. When Ron and Hermione bicker about if Snape could be trusted, Sirius partly agrees with Ron as it questionable why Dumbledore would trust Snape, since he was interested in the Dark Arts as a child, and hung out with some Slytherin students that became Death Eaters, though he also knows Snape is smart enough to not get caught by the Ministry. Harry then remembers Karkaroff's sudden appearance in their class though Sirius can't figure out what that was about. Sirius then brings all the questions of these mysterious circumstances together, including why Moody was also searching Snape's office. He then asks Ron to send a letter to Percy to find out if there is any news about Crouch. Before they leave, Sirius reminds them not to wander outside of Hogwarts for anything as someone could attack them during that moment.

After sending Hedwig with the letter to Percy, the trio head to the kitchen to give Dobby the socks Harry bought for him only to find Winky has become intoxicated from consuming a large amount of butterbeer (which works like alcohol on a house-elf) and it doesn't help things when Harry mentions to her that Mr. Crouch has disappeared. Hate mail soon starts popping up for Hermione in regards to Rita Skeeter's article and she has to go to the Hospital Wing due to a curse and doesn't turn up until a Care of Magical Creatures lesson where Hagrid is having them use Nifflers to find gold coins (which is actually Leprechaun gold) he buried. Hagrid encourages Hermione to ignore the hate mail citing his own experience with the hate mail he received after Skeeter released the article about him. Hermoine decides to discover how Skeeter has been getting her information when she is already banned from school grounds.

It is around Easter that Percy's response comes with the Easter eggs that Mrs. Weasley sent (which Hermione's is smaller than Harry and Ron's due to her reading Skeeter's article) and his irradiated response doesn't help. On the night of 24 May Harry and the other champions are informed by Ludo Bagman at the Quidditch pitch that the next task will be in a maze that is being placed here, and is filled with magical obstacles and their job is to head to the center of the maze where the Triwizard Cup is and touch it. Before Mr. Bagman can offer Harry advice again, Krum takes Harry aside to the Forbidden Forest, and questions him about his relationship with Hermione. Harry assures Krum that he and Hermione are just friends.

Moments later, a rather crazy looking Barty Crouch emerges from the forest, asking for Dumbledore and mentions some important information during his ranting regarding that Voldemort is getting stronger since he was responsible for something bad and also mentions his son as well as Bertha Jorkins who is now dead. Harry goes to retrieve Dumbledore, but when he returns, they find Krum has been stunned and Crouch is nowhere to be seen. While Karkaroff accuses Mr. Crouch's apparent attack on his student as a secret conspiracy, Dumbledore has Hagrid take Harry back to Gryffindor Tower to rest and hints in his message not to contact Sirius until tomorrow morning.

"You were clutching your scar! You were rolling on the floor, clutching your scar! Come now. Potter, I have experience in these matters!"

—Professor Trelawney, to Harry.

By the next morning the trio debate on what happened last night though Harry thinks the strange things Mr. Crouch said where important especially if Voldemort is getting stronger as they send a letter to Sirius Black. They also encounter Fred and George who are talking about blackmailing someone that they've tried to reason with before they entered the Owlry and Ron asks who they are blackmailing but they make it look like they are joking. After they leave, Ron points out that it is obvious Fred and George are serious about starting a Joke Shop since they are close to graduating with only one more school year left after this year and they have to make enough money on their own to start one. Sirius's response arrives the following day where he scolds Harry for being out with Krum that late at night and that he is lucky he wasn't attacked as it was clear that someone did not want Barty Crouch to reach Dumbledore and that Harry should not do that again and instead practice defensive spells for the Third Task, and gives the same advice that Moody said yesterday.

Not long later, following a practice session, during Divination, Harry passes out and has a vision of Voldemort being informed of someone's death and then torturing Wormtail for failing in preventing that person from escaping. Harry awakens with his scar hurting badly and pretending he has to go to the hospital wing, Harry actually goes to see Dumbledore. After spending time trying to get the password right this time, Harry overhears an argument that Dumbledore and Moody are having with Cornelius Fudge regarding the Barty Crouch situation. Crouch refuses to believe the words that Crouch said about Bertha Jorkins being dead given her habits, and while debating on what happened to Crouch, Fudge suggests that Madame Maxime is the likely culprit given her Half-giant physiology though Dumbledore counters this given that Fudge is acting on personal prejudice. Moody interrupts the debate to explain that Harry Potter has arrived.

"I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind."

—Dumbledore, to Harry.

Harry looking at Dumbledore's Pensieve.

Alone in Dumbledore's office after Dumbledore, Fudge, and Moody leave to examine the school grounds, Harry while looking around notices Dumbledore's Pensieve, a device that stores memories and through curiosity, when he attempts to look for the bottom of the basin it is stored in, accidentally uses it, though it doesn't take Harry long to realise he is in a memory. Harry ends up going back into three of Dumbledore's memories. The first is the trial of Igor Karkaroff in which he renounces his support of the Death Eaters and gives the names of existing Death Eaters, including Snape. Dumbledore (in the memory) states that Snape had turned spy against Voldemort and is no longer a threat. The second memory consists of the trial of Ludo Bagman, on charges of passing information to Voldemort even though he wasn't aware the person he gave the information to was a Death Eater, and his popularity quickly clears him. The third is the trial of four people; the Lestrange family and Crouch's son, Barty Crouch Jr, for the use of the Cruciatus Curse on Alice and Frank Longbottom. Crouch sentences them all to a lifetime in Azkaban. By then Dumbledore (from the present) arrives and brings Harry back.

After Dumbledore explains what happened and shows Harry another of his memories regarding a teenage Bertha Jorkins during her Hogwarts years, Harry explains what happened in Divination. Dumbledore finds Harry's scar hurting to be odd and also brings up this is the second time it has hurt, the first being during the summer, revealing to Harry that he learned this from Sirius Black to whom he has also been in contact with and came up with the idea for him to hide in the cave outside Hogsmeade. Dumbledore suspects that the reason why Harry's scar hurts is due to the connection they both have since Voldemort's failed curse had created that connection and would only hurt when Voldemort were close or was feeling a strong amount of anger. Dumbledore also explains to Harry that unlike the Ministry he believes that the disappearances of Bertha Jorkins, Barty Crouch, and a Muggle by the name of Frank Bryce may be connected due to having some connection to Voldemort. Before Harry leaves Dumbledore explains what happened with Neville's parents is the reason why he was brought up by his grandmother, and while Dumbledore doesn't know if Crouch Jr. was involved with that, he personally requests that Harry does not disclose this information to anyone else until Neville himself can disclose this when he is ready.

"Yeah...we've helped each other out, haven't we? We both got here. Let's just take it together."

—Harry, to Cedric.

Harry passes off the information he learned from the Pensieve to Ron and Hermione (excluding the details about Neville's parents) and Hermione realizes this is what Rita Skeeter and Winky meant about Ludo Bagman being a dark wizard. As the task approaches Ron and Hermione spend a portion of their time helping Harry aside from studying for their final exams and even McGonagall is able to help him by allowing him to practice in her empty classroom during lunch time. During one practice session, Ron notices Malfoy outside the castle sitting by a tree and doing something odd which Harry and Hermione also look at before they return to practice. Sirius is also sending Harry messages by owl reach day, reminding Harry to focus on what is ahead. On the day of the third task, Rita Skeeter releases an article claiming Harry is demented and dangerous which also uses a quote from Draco Malfoy. This raises some questions between the trio, since the article mentions of Harry's scar hurting during Divination, when it was up in the North Tower, and Skeeter is not allowed inside Hogwarts. Hermione finally figures out how Skeeter may be getting her information and leaves to put her theory to the test.

Later after McGonagall tells the champions that their families are here to watch them complete, Harry dreadfully doesn't want to go there expecting the Dursleys, but instead finds Molly and Bill Weasley. While they give Harry a tour of their knowledge of Hogwarts, Mrs. Weasley gets into an argument with Amos Diggory regarding Harry's popularity in the tournament before Mrs. Diggory asks him to stop. They then mention to Harry that Percy will not be coming this time since after the Barty Crouch incident which is being kept secret, Percy was hauled in for questioning regarding that the instructions he was receiving may not have actually been sent by Barty Crouch. Instead Cornelius Fudge will be serving as the fifth Triwizard judge in his place. After the rest of the Weasley children and Hermione show up, Harry has to correct Mrs. Weasley on the rubbish Skeeter wrote about Hermione being his girlfriend and how it is not true. After dinner, Mr. Bagman takes the champions to the maze and Harry and Cedric being tied for first place together are sent in first.

In the third task, Harry successfully navigates through the maze with the aid of the Four-Point Spell and gets past both a Boggart disguised as a Dementor and a Blast-Ended-Skrewt, though along the way he hears Fleur scream. Harry then rescues Cedric who is attacked by Krum and Harry manages to stun Krum and sends out a signal for Krum to be rescued before he and Cedric move on. Harry manages to pass a Sphinx by figuring out it's riddle. As he approaches the Cup, he is attacked by an Acromantula. Aided by Cedric, he defeats it, though one of Harry's legs is injured in the process. After talking it out, they decide to grab the Cup simultaneously. Unknown to them, the Cup is actually a Portkey that transports them to an old cemetery, in the village of Little Hangleton.

Just as Harry and Cedric are trying to figure out what happened, a stranger (Wormtail) appears as Harry's scar begins hurting again. A second voice orders Wormtail to kill Cedric, which he does, leaving Harry shocked and angry. Harry is then tied to a tomb-stone. As Harry recognizes this stranger as Peter Pettigrew, due to the missing finger on his right hand, it turns out he is carrying what appears to be a deformed infant. Here, Wormtail takes some of Harry's blood, bone dust from Tom Riddle Sr.'s grave, and cuts off his own right hand, at the orders of the strange creature, and places them in a cauldron. The creature is revealed to be Lord Voldemort, and the potion made by Wormtail returns him to full strength.

"How many will be brave enough to return when they feel it? And how many will be foolish enough to stay away?"

—Voldemort, about the Death Eaters.

Little Hangleton's old cemetery.

Voldemort forces Wormtail to take out his bleeding arm to activate the Dark Mark to summon his Death Eaters and see who would come. While in wait, Voldemort tells Harry that after his father abandoned him and his mother upon finding out her identity as a witch, his mother died giving birth to him, and he was raised in a Muggle orphanage until he later sought revenge by murdering his father. After his Death Eaters arrive, Voldemort spends time criticising them for failing to seek him out during these last thirteen years despite them knowing that he had found a way to escape mortal death and believes they feared a power greater than his like Albus Dumbledore which is why they slipped back into normal wizarding society by claiming they were never loyal to Voldemort. Voldemort then awards Wormtail in aiding with his rebirth by creating a new silver hand as a replacement for his original right hand.

After Voldemort identifies more Death Eaters (including Lucius Malfoy) and announces his plans for rebuilding his army, along with punishing the Death Eaters that have deserted him, Voldemort answers Lucius's question to how he had returned. He first brings up the protection spell that Lily Potter provided Harry with in trying to save her son's life which is what originally caused his downfall and provided Harry with protection from him, but now that they share the same blood, Voldemort is now free to touch Harry, thus rendering the spell ineffective. Voldemort then reveals he fled deep into an Albanian forest, barely alive without a proper body, surviving by possessing animals who couldn't last long with Voldemort inside of them until Quirinus Quirrell showed up allowing Voldemort to possess him. Following his failure to obtain the Philosopher's Stone, Voldemort returned to Albania with little hope of getting a proper body again.

After fleeing the country following the events of Harry's third year, Wormtail learned of Voldemort's continued existence from other rats and sought him out. During his journey, he ran into Bertha Jorkins and brought her to Voldemort. Through torturing her, Voldemort found out about the Triwizard Tournament, and that a faithful Death Eater servant was still alive from breaking a memory charm that was placed on Jorkins before Voldemort disposed of her. With Wormtail's help, he was able to return to Britain, where he plotted Harry's abduction, knowing that Harry's blood would be able to remove his own mother's protection. Voldemort reveals that this servant who is at Hogwarts has ensured that Harry would win the tournament and be brought to the graveyard. Voldermort then frees Harry and plans to face him in a duel, wishing to prove who among the two is stronger in front of his minions now that there is no one around to protect Harry.

"...he was going to die upright like his father, and he was going to die trying to defend himself, even if no defense was possible..."

—Harry thinking about his confrontation with Voldemort.

Dark Lord's snake-like eyes.

Voldemort challenges Harry to a duel. After Harry refuses to bow to the Dark Lord, Voldemort uses the Imperius Curse on Harry to force him. Though Harry gives in the first time, the second time he manages to shake it off. When the duel begins, however, his wand and Harry's are "brothers", due to the fact that their wand's cores are both feathers from the same Phoenix. As the wands' streams interlock, gold, a Priori Incantatem effect occurs, causing the spirit echoes of Voldemort's victims, including Harry's parents, to spill out from his wand. The echoes momentarily protect Harry, allowing him to grab the portkey and escape to Hogwarts with Cedric's body.

When he arrives back at the school, many of the students begin to scream when they see the body of Cedric. During the confusion where an exhausted Harry tries to tell Dumbldore what happened, before Dumbledore could take Harry to the Hospital Wing, Harry is ushered away by Moody while Dumbledore and Fudge are busy with Cedric's parents and is taken to his office where he sits in shock and Moody gives him a potion to bring him around. As Moody probes Harry for information, at first Harry believes that Karkaroff is the faithful servant that Voldemort mentioned, but Moody reveals that when the Dark Mark was activated, Karkaroff fled Hogwarts, since he had betrayed the Death Eaters and could never go back to them. After Moody reveals he knows that Harry was taken to the graveyard and that he is angry that Voldemort did not try to tortue the Death Eaters that had abandoned him, Moody reveals he was responsible for putting Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire under a different school. He also purposely tipped off Hagrid about the dragons, so Hagrid could show Harry, along with giving Harry a hint for beating the first task. He gave Cedric the clue to the egg for the second task, knowing that Cedric would tell Harry. While Moody's original plan was to have Harry use the book he lent to Neville early on in the school year to learn about the gillyweed, but since Harry would not ask for help, having learned about Dobby from Harry at Christmas, Moody purposely set up the conversation with McGonagall about the gillyweed so Dobby would overhear them and get it from Snape's office.

Trunk where Moody was locked up.

Moody also reveals that he was responsible for helping Harry in the third task by dealing with the obstacles, stunning Fleur, and bewitching Krum to take out Cedric. Moody attempts to kill Harry to please his master, but before he has the chance, Dumbledore stuns him as he, Snape, and McGonagall burst in and stop him. Dumbledore tells Harry this man is not Alastor Moody, since he realised this when Moody took Harry away from his sight moments ago, something the real Moody would never do. Dumbledore sends Snape to get a potion and fetch Winky and McGonagall to find a large black dog at the Pumpkin patch and send it to his office. He then opens Moody's trunk and finds the real Alastor Moody inside the seventh compartment and gets him out. Dumbledore then discovers that the impostor has been using the Polyjuice Potion to disguise himself as Alastor Moody all year and kept the real Moody alive to use his hair as an ingredient, though he suspects in the excitement of tonight the imposter forgot to take his most recent dosage. They wait until the effects wear off, revealing the impostor's true identity as Barty Crouch Jr just as Snape, McGonagall, and Winky arrive. Under the effects of Snape's Veritaserum, Crouch Jr. is asked by Dumbledore how he escaped Azkaban.

Crouch Jr. confesses that his father, Barty Crouch Sr. and his mother helped him escape Azkaban. His mother was dying, so it was his mothers wish before she died that he would escape, so Barty Crouch Jr. and his mother switched places by the use of the Polyjuice Potion since the Dementors could not tell the difference and Mrs. Crouch was buried disguised as him, while Crouch Sr. had a private funeral for her to conceal the truth. Barty Crouch Sr. put the Imperius Curse on him to make sure he was controlled and out of sight. Bertha Jorkins eventually found out when she came to their house on business while Crouch Sr. was not home, forcing Crouch Sr. to place a Memory Charm on her to conceal this, which damaged her memory permanently as a result. But after Winky persuaded her master to let his son go to the Quidditch World Cup, they arranged it to where they would use their Invisibility cloak to hide Crouch Jr. and make it look like Crouch Sr. would sit in the Top Box, but that seat was actually for Crouch Jr. to use, where during this event, Crouch Jr. secretly fought the curse and stole Harry's wand when Winky wasn't looking. The Death Eaters showed up disrupting the tournament. Barty Crouch Jr. was angry at the fact that they weren't loyal to Voldemort, so after regaining control he used Harry's wand to summon the Dark Mark, which scared the Death Eaters away. His father fired Winky for failing to watch him and almost letting him escape, before finding him and quickly taking him home.

Eventually, thanks to Bertha's information, Voldemort and Wormtail were able to find Crouch Jr, and release him from his father's imprisonment. Learning from Bertha about Alastor Moody becoming a teacher at Hogwarts, he and Wormtail captured Moody, allowing Crouch Jr to be planted at Hogwarts as Moody, with Wormtail keeping an eye on Crouch. He kept Moody alive not only to maintain his disguise, but also learned about his habits to be able to fool Dumbledore. It is revealed that Crouch Jr was the Barty Crouch Harry saw on the Marauder's Map, stealing potions ingredients from Snape's office to continue making the Polyjuice Potion. Eventually, Crouch started to fight off the Imperius curse placed upon him, and was then kept under home imprisonment by Wormtail, under the lie of being unwell. He managed to escape, and traveled to Hogwarts to warn Dumbledore of his son's existence. Using the Marauder's Map, Crouch Jr was able to intercept (and then kill) him however. He then transfigured his father's body into a bone and buried it in Hagrid's yard. Crouch Jr. as Moody offered to take the Triwizard Cup into the maze so he could turn it into a Portkey and complete his master's plan.

"Time is short, and unless the few of us who know the truth stand united, there is no hope for any of us."

—Dumbledore, at the end of the term.

The Dark Mark - the Death Eaters' Symbol.

Dumbledore takes Harry to his office to meet Sirius but not before having McGonagall stand guard over Crouch Jr. and sending Snape to take Moody to the Hospital Wing and then bring Cornelius Fudge up to Moody's office. Once in Dumbledore's office, Harry tells Dumbledore and Sirius everything and Dumbledore explains the Priori Incantatem effect and the spirits that appeared were echoes of Voldemort's recent victims. After Sirius transforms back into a dog, they head to the Hospital Wing where Harry is given a Sleeping Potion to help him relax. Upon waking up, he along with Molly and Bill Weasley who are watching him hear a large argument. Fudge had summoned a Dementor as protection when he went to confront Crouch Jr., which had sucked out his soul before he, McGonagall, Snape, and Dumbledore enter the hospital wing. Dumbledore is disturbed that they lost a key piece of evidence on Voldemort's return now with Crouch Jr. rendered useless, while Fudge believes that man was an insane lunatic.

Due to reading Rita Skeeter's last article about Harry being dangerous, Fudge cannot accept Harry's testimony, nor does he believe Dumbledore's information about Harry's scar. Harry gets up and tries to identify the Death Eaters whose names he heard earlier, but Fudge points out they were cleared long ago and he might have read this out of an old Daily Prophet article. Fudge is then offended by Dumbledore's suggestions of removing the Dementors from Azkaban and sending an envoy to make an agreement with the giants in dealing with the situation out of fear for his job. Even having Snape revealing his Dark Mark and explaining it fails to convince Fudge who thinks it is some kind of a ploy. Fudge makes it clear that he is going to have a serious talk with Dumbledore about his running of Hogwarts and leaves but not before he gives Harry his winnings from coming in first in the Tournament.

Bill Weasley leaves at Dumbledore's request to inform his father of what happened and have Arthur work on discreetly contacting those within the Ministry that can be convinced of the truth and McGonagall is sent to retrieve Hagrid and Madame Maxine for a mission. After Madam Pomfrey is sent to look after Winky, Dumbledore has Sirus revert to his true form and both Mrs. Weasley and Snape are surprised by his presence, but are convinced of his innocence. Dumbledore quickly dispatches Sirius to reinstate the Order of the Phoenix by gathering known wizards and witches who would support their side. Harry then uses the last of the potion to return to sleep, but not before he regrets having won the tournament since it was his idea for Cedric to grab the Triwizard Cup with him which led to his death.

"It had ter happen. Well, now it has, an' we'll jus' have ter get on with it."

—Hagrid, about Voldemort's return.

The beetle Rita Skeeter.

After a few days of rest, Harry meets with Cedric's parents where they do not blame him for what happened and are thankful for returning with his body, but decline Harry's offer to take the Triwizard winnings with them. Harry is able to have a relaxing time due to Dumbledore having made a formal request for the students to not talk about what happened that night, though some students are not pleased around Harry due to Rita Skeeter's article. While at Hagrid's Hut, he gives them a good lecture of how Voldemort's return was inevitable and all they can do now is fight. Hagrid mentions that what Dumbledore has assigned for him is top secret and that Madam Maxine might be accompanying him. During the End-of-Term Feast, a memorial feast for Cedric is held, where Dumbledore tells the school what has happened in the graveyard despite the Ministry's wishes not to. Once packed up everyone is headed out ready to head to their separate destinations. Fleur and Krum both say good-bye to the trio before they are to head back to their respective school's transportation, while the trio take their carriage to the Hogwarts Express.

As Harry, Ron, and Hermione ride back home to King's Cross Station, just as the trio learn that the Daily Prophet is not reporting Cedric Diggory's death, likely due to the Ministry's interference, Hermione reveals that Rita Skeeter is an unregistered animagus who can turn into a beetle to which she caught in a jar in the hospital wing after the third task. This explains how she has been getting her information despite being banned from Hogwarts, there was a bug on the statue the night of the Yule Ball where Hagrid told Madame Maxine his secret, Krum found a bug in Hermione's hair after the Second Task, and there was a bug on the window that day in Divination when Harry's scar hurt. They also realise that the reason why Rita got those interviews from Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson undetected for her articles was that they knew she was an animagus since Harry recalled Draco sitting by a tree that day talking to someone while also holding onto a small bug in his hand. Hermione assures Harry and Ron that her stories will trouble them no longer otherwise she would tell the Ministry and has also blackmailed her not to write any of her stories for a year.

Just as Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle arrive and taunt Harry over Voldemort's return they are rendered unconscious from hexes used by both the trio and Fred and George Weasley. Soon another mystery is solved; it was hinted earlier that Fred and George were blackmailing someone, and they reveal that it was Ludo Bagman, who paid them their winnings at the Quidditch World Cup in Leprechaun gold, and wouldn't even return their original wager. This is also why he tried to avoid them in public when they confronted him. The twins reveal that Bagman has a long-time problem with gambling and he was also in debt to the goblins who took his money after the World Cup which wasn't enough and followed him to Hogwarts. Bagman made a bet that Harry would win the tournament to get his money back, which is why he was trying to help Harry cheat. However, since Harry and Cedric actually "tied" for first place, Bagman has currently gone on the run. As they get off the train, Harry gives the twins his Triwizard Winnings to help them with their dream of running a joke shop, since he doesn't need that money personally. Everyone then say their goodbyes as Harry is prepared to leave with Vernon Dursley.

Behind the scenes

The book presents the second out of five instances in which the opening narrative is not delivered through a point of view close to Harry: The first instance is in Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 1 - "The Boy Who Lived" which is told from the perspective of Vernon Dursley. The second instance is Chapter 1 of Goblet of Fire - "The Riddle House", from the perspective of the Muggle caretaker, Frank Bryce. The third instance is in Half Blood Prince, Chapter 1: "The Other Minister" from the perspective of the British Minister. The fourth instance is in Half Blood Prince, Chapter 2: "Spinners End" from the perspective of Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange. The final instance is in Deathly Hallows, Chapter 1: "The Dark Lord Ascending" from the perspective of nearly all of the Death Eaters.

The book presents a greater international aspect to the wizarding community: The Quidditch World Cup, the Triwizard Tournament, two European schools of Magic (Beauxbatons and Durmstrang), and possibly two other international schools (The Salem Witches Institute and an unnamed school in Brazil) are shown or mentioned.

The book mentions the name of a real person - Natalie McDonald, a nine-year-old girl from Toronto, Canada, who was dying of leukaemia. She wrote to Rowling asking what was going to happen in the next Harry Potter book as she would not live long enough to read it. The former emailed back, but Natalie had died a day earlier. In tribute, she became a first-year student at Hogwarts named by the Sorting Hat in Gryffindor - the house for the brave at heart - in the fourth book. When Rowling was later in Canada for a promotional tour she visited the McDonald family. With the exception of people of ancient times, such as Nicolas Flamel, this is the only Harry Potter book to so honour an individual.

On page 697, US hardcover edition (Scholastic), Dumbledore states, "If, however, the owners of the wands force the wands to do battle... a very rare effect will take place. One of the wands will force the other to regurgitate spells it has performed - in reverse. The most recent first [...] and then those which preceded it. [...]". The series had maintained that James Potter was murdered before Lily. Therefore, logically, Lily, the more recently killed of the two, should have emerged from Voldemort's wand before James during the Priori Incantatem scene. However, in the original edition of the book, James Potter came out first, and said, "Hold on, your mother is coming and wants to see you." Rowling had originally written that Lily emerged from the wand first, however, her American editor, in the rush to edit the book, incorrectly pointed this out as an error, and Rowling "changed it without thinking." Subsequent editions of the book corrected the mistake, and Rowling's original order (Lily appearing before James) stands as canon.

Mad-Eye Moody said there was no known way of blocking the Avada Kedavra curse. However, Harry blocked it with his own spell in the battle against Voldemort, creating the Priori Incantatem effect. Dumbledore also blocked the spell with physical objects in the following book. However, Moody may have been referring to a lack of any spell that could block the Avada Kedavra curse as opposed to physical objects or the Priori Incantatem effect. But since it was really Barty Crouch Jr. disguised as Moody that said this, he might have just said this to purposefully discourage the kids in his classroom of ever finding or believing in ways to block the Avada Kedavra curse.

Dumbledore was said to have a "gleam of triumph" in his eyes when told that Voldemort had restored his body using Harry's blood, at the end of Goblet of Fire (Ch. 36). Rowling has confirmed that this is "still enormously significant". It turned out that this was very significant because when Voldemort used Harry's blood to revive himself he made it so that as long as he lived Harry could not die, as revealed in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

In Quidditch Through the Ages, it says that the first ever World Cup was in 1473, with a match being held every four years. Yet the World Cup in 1994 is number 422. There cannot be 422 world cups in 521 years with a four-year gap in between. Calculated correctly, the World Cup that the Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry attended was actually the 130th, and it should have been held in 1993.

Before the Third Task starts, Molly Weasley reminisced about the gamekeeper before Hagrid, named Ogg. But in other books, it was implied that Hagrid had held that post since his expulsion from school in 1943. Since Hagrid's years as gamekeeper appeared to have overlapped Molly's years at school, it seemed unlikely that she knew a previous one. The likely explanation of this is that since Hagrid was only thirteen years old when he was expelled, he started out as Ogg's assistant, and was still in this post when Molly started at Hogwarts.

In Hogsmeade, Sirius implied that at a certain point, Snape's attendance at Hogwarts overlapped with Lestrange's. It could have meant Rodolphus or Rabastan Lestrange, Bellatrix's husband and brother-in-law respectively, as Bellatrix would have left school about two years before Snape started.

When Fred and George bet on the Quidditch match with Bagman, it said that Fred put the paper with their wages in his robes, but Fred was wearing Muggle clothing.

In the beginning, it said that Harry thought that for one hour last year he would be staying with Sirius, but in the third book, he only thought he would be staying with Sirius for a half an hour.

In chapter 35, the book said '"The Imperius Curse," Moody said.' However, the Polyjuice Potion had already worn off, so it should have been Barty Crouch Jr. speaking.

In the film version, it was heavily implied by the sheer number of students that everyone from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang made the trip to Hogwarts. However, in the book, it was mentioned that after the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students entered the school are the Hallowe'en feast began, there were only about twenty extra students in the Great Hall. Igor Karkaroff also said in the book (during the argument about letting Harry Potter participate the Triwizard Tournament) that he would have brought more students to Hogwarts if he had known younger students could enter the Tournament.

At the end of Prisoner of Azkaban, Cornelius Fudge mentioned possibly bringing a dragon to Hogwarts to guard the school. Ironically, the Ministry does bring dragons to Hogwarts, although for a different purpose.

In the chapter entitled "The Unforgivable Curses" when Harry and Ron are doing their Divination homework some of their fake prophecies could be considered as coming true throughout the book. For example "stabbed in the back by someone you thought was a friend," may refer to Ron's later jealousy towards Harry's many achievements and when Hermione points out Ron's apparent double drowning it could be interpreted as foreshadowing to she and Ron being placed at the bottom of the lake during the second task.

Cedric's death marked the first occasion in the series where a protagonist has been killed off (excluding minor characters such as Frank Bryce, and deaths that occurred outside of the action, such as Lily and James.) In every book after this, at least one main character dies.

Errors

In the book's opening chapter, there are repeated references to a planned murder, with lines such as "...one more death and our path to Harry Potter is clear" and "One more murder… my faithful servant at Hogwarts…" Yet, there is no indication that anyone else is murdered that was part of this plan. Bertha Jorkins was already dead, Frank Bryce was only a victim of circumstance, and Barty Crouch was originally kept alive and only killed because he had escaped and become a liability.

While cooking, Mrs. Weasley pours a cream coloured sauce from her wand. This breaks Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration, which states that food cannot be created by magic. This could be explained as that Mrs. Weasley is Summoning the sauce rather than conjuring it from nowhere.

At one point when Dumbledore is asking Barty Crouch Jr. questions Barty is referred to as "Moody", even though he is not disguised as Alastor Moody any more.

In the first task, nowhere has it been stated that one could not retrieve the Golden Egg through the use of a Summoning Charm, but none of the champions even attempted this most simple system to do so. However, it is stated that the first task was designed to test the champions' daring and courage; thus, using a Summoning Charm would be too easy — almost to the point of cheating. It is possible that use of this spell would have resulted in a bottom score, or that there were enchantments on the eggs to prevent summoning.

Curiously, 1994 was the second year in a row in which Hallowe'en fell on a Saturday. In 1993, Professor Trelawney's prediction to Lavender Brown warned her that her worst fears would come true on Friday October 16th. In 1994, October 30 was the date of the arrival of the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students and was a Friday; the same day of the week it would have been in 1993 as the 30th fell exactly two weeks after the 16th. That is not possible because the same date does not fall on the same day of the week two years in a row.

Prior to Bertha Jorkins coming out of Voldemort's wand there should have been indication of Voldemort making a Horcrux with her death, after she appears but before Lily appears there should also have been some indication of the methods Voldemort used to break her memory charm. It is of course possible he used another wand in both cases but unlikely he would have change wands shortly after killing Bertha.

In the Second Task, Victor Krum transfigures his top half of his body into a shark's head to swim underwater without the need of air. However in The Tales of Beedle the Bard it clearly states that when transfigured into an animal, the wizard loses all sense of human thought and becomes the animal until another Wizard can transfigure them back. Krum who transfigured his head into a shark really should have attacked Hermione and not been able to do the task at all.

In the letter Harry writes to Sirius he mentions Dudley throwing his Playstation out the window; however the Playstaion wasn't released until Decemeber of 1994.